All Downhill

In the University town of Trondheim, which is also Norway’s third largest city, has more cycling traffic than all the other Norwegian cities. A majority of students and residents use bicycles as their main mode of transportion, despite topography that would deter even the most prolific bike enthusiasts. This is all due to the city's effort to create a vast system of bicycle infrastructure.

An unusual, but popular new infrastructure element is the bicycle lift 'Trampe'. 'Trampe' works much like a ski lift except that it is integrated into the bike path. A key card is needed to operate the lift which can be obtained from the nearby bicycle repair shop. At the bottom of the steep 130 meter long hill cyclists place their right foot on the lift and receive a push which transports them upwards at a comfortable speed of 2 meters per second. Since its introduction in 1993, 'Trampe' has assisted more than 220,000 cyclists.

City planners take note: according to a recent survey, 41 % of the lift users claim they're using the bicycle more often because of 'Trampe'. Increased bicycle use and other human powered transportation cuts down on CO2 emissions. Creating infrastructure that is bike friendly stimulates use and is one way towards sustainable urban transportation.